TAIT: ICE School takes learning to a new class

Cam Tait writes about ICE School, a program where students are given the opportunity to move their classroom into Rogers Place

by
Cam Tait
/ OilersFoundation.ca

The sounds coming from the southwest corner of Rogers Place sent sure signals there was an Edmonton Oilers hockey game taking place. Cheering, clapping and the iconic "Let's Go Oilers" chant drifted outside the glass doors bordering 104 Ave. Sightings of the Oilers mascot, Hunter the Lynx, were also reported in the building. The timing, however, didn't make sense: it was just 11:15 AM on a Friday. Very few Oilers games face off at that time of the day. Still, uncontrollable excitement couldn't be harnessed and here was the amazing part: the person, or rather animal, causing this unmediated mayhem did not speak one word, nor one syllable, nor even make a single sound.

TAIT: Ultra-fan

How Gary Robbins combines his passion for the Oilers with his discipline to trek one of the most grueling ultramarathon trail races in North America

by
Cam Tait
/ EdmontonOilers.com

Edmonton Oilers fans are the best in professional sport. No question. Some of them have rituals and superstitions, watching games in the same place, wearing the same clothes. Others study the game in serious fashion. Fans undertake such rituals to help cheer the Oilers on to victory.

TAIT: Oilers Alumni embrace World's Longest Hockey Game

Oilers Alumni members cheer on 251-hour hockey marathon

by
Cam Tait
/ EdmontonOilers.com

Family Day came to a close Monday evening as the sun tucked itself away, but Dr. Brent Saik was, once again, embraced by the tight-knit unit known as the hockey family. Dr. Saik, Edmonton Oilers optometrist, held the World's Longest Hockey Game on his family property southeast of Sherwood Park, affectionately known as Saiker's Acres. The game, which lasted for a staggering 251 hours and nine minutes ended shortly after 7:00 PM on Monday night, an unofficial world record. The final score was 1,830 for the red team and 1,692 for team white. Shots on goal? Get this: a total of 12,819.

TAIT: Magic Memories on the Menu

Edmonton man gets exclusive Oilers dressing room dinner

by
Cam Tait
/ OilersFoundation.ca

Before the doors to Rogers Place swung open in the early fall of 2017, Oilers Entertainment Group's (OEG) mission stood as an optimistic creed of the type of environment employees were challenged to give guests in the new downtown arena: "We Create I Remember Moments." There have been hundreds of thousands of magical moments, carefully crafted, with specialized styles in Rogers Place. More exciting, though, are the many more memories yet to come when ICE District rolls into action with a myriad of experiences just waiting to be embraced.

TAIT: Goals

Hockey Talks. You could very well assume phrases like "skate", "shoot", "pass", "what a save," and, of course, "what a goal" are perpetual phrases heard during a hockey game. But during the month of January, other words, hopefully, turned from silence, into whispers, to heartfelt words with deep profound meaning on a subject that seems to be growing daily - but, clearly, we're not completely comfortable to discuss.

TAIT: Dropping the Gloves

Cam Tait writes about Hockey Fights Cancer Night

by
Cam Tait
/ EdmontonOilers.com

In the game of hockey, gloves are essential. They protect players' hands against blazing pucks, slamming into boards at high speeds, skate blades in uncontrolled skirmishes and other things. Gloves also come into the spotlight when they are dropped and players begin to fight - one of hockey's mainstays.

On their way to the penalty box, players scoop up their gloves. Hockey fights on the ice never last long, thankfully.

TAIT: Setting the example

Al Hamilton Scholarship recipients honoured earlier this week

by
Cam Tait
/ EdmontonOilers.com

EDMONTON, AB - At the beginning of the 2001 Edmonton Oilers season, Al Hamilton stood near centre ice of Northlands Coliseum and watched with pride as his number 3 jersey was retired, marked by a banner that made its celebrated journey to the rafters. It took its well-deserved place as the first Edmonton Oilers jersey number to be hung in the storied arena. Hamilton probably had hundreds of thousands of memories racing through his mind of his days as a rugged defenceman known for his uncanny leadership.

But then, as he strolled off the ice to revered applause, the man widely known as "Hammy" started another chapter in his hockey career, opening its first page the same way he played the game: always looking ahead. Making things happen.

TAIT: Hit the Books

Cam Tait kicks off Read-in-Week with his childhood memories of being read to

by
Cam Tait
/ EdmontonOilers.com

It was always so special when my Uncle Bill came to visit. He'd pull up into our driveway, usually just after supper time, after he navigated that pale blue Buick La Sabre south during the five-hour drive to Edmonton from Grande Prairie. My mother, in anticipation of his arrival, always kept a plate of supper in the oven for Uncle Bill. We'd gather around the kitchen table and visit with him while he ate his evening meal.

Visiting would continue until 8:00 PM. Then, it was off to brush my teeth and climb into my single bed in the bedroom I shared with my younger brother Brad.

The Future of the Game

by
Cam Tait
/ OilCountryChampionship.com

Ethan Lockwood was being a kid. That's all. Because, when you're 10 years old playing street hockey and the ball rolls over the sidewalk, bouncing like never before and ends up under a tree there's only one thing to do: go get it. No wasting time when it comes to street hockey.